NU's Lyon named Big Ten Freshman of the Year

3-point ace 1st Wildcat to be chosen as league's top rookie

Bruce and Mary Alice Lyon, both coaches, encouraged their three kids to play sports left-handed so they would gain a competitive edge. Maggie Lyon didn't much take to that — with one giant exception.

"The only thing in life I do left-handed," she said, "is shoot."

The Northwestern guard shot well enough this season, hitting 35.6 percent from long range with a team-high 52 3-pointers, to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She became the program's first player to be named the league's top rookie.

"It is really cool that I got this because the Big Ten is such a great conference," the New Trier graduate said, "but I really only care about how the team is doing; we want to win some games in the Big Ten conference tournament."

The 13-16 Wildcats are seeded 10th in the tournament and face No. 7 Iowa at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. Kendall Hackney, Dannielle Diamant and Karly Roser also were named to All-Big Ten teams. The program had not had four players recognized by the league since 1993.